First, you said “first First” and I giggled a bit. You know, like when someone says do do... Wait, now that was three Firsts!! This is getting confusing, I think that may have actually been four.@weinie ,
Interesting question.
While a First 30 was the first First, the 35 foot models have always held the spiritual DNA of the series. Indeed, there have more 35 foot models, and probably more of them sold, than any other length of First.
Indeed, the quest to make three full sleeping cabins in the 367 rendered the V birth and the forward head basically unusable. The three cabin idea was born out of European racing, where crews usually slept on the boat during long regattas. In the US we don’t do that, and it would’ve been much better served with two cabins and then after head.The comments on the 36.7 are interesting. About a dozen years ago we were toying with the idea of a bigger boat. Looked at the 367 and 373 side by side in Seattle. While not Bene fans, we were willing to seriously consider them.
The 367 was just about perfect on deck, i.e. designed for active sailing with a great cockpit, while the interior was awful -- the head compartment was cramped and barely useable.
OTOH, the 373 had a really nice interior layout but the deck design was awful for sailing. The broker told us the company had decided to aim for totally different markets and our comments echoed those of other sailors, but (at that time) there were no "dual purpose" boats from them.
If nothing else it reconfirmed our allegiance to our Olson 34 with it's combination of cruising amenities and dedication to sailing on deck.
The Bene's were nice looking, but you had to choose one set of features or another. Period. Things change and perhaps they will change their marketing again.
(?)
But you other point, you are absolutely correct about their bifurcated product lines.The comments on the 36.7 are interesting. About a dozen years ago we were toying with the idea of a bigger boat. Looked at the 367 and 373 side by side in Seattle. While not Bene fans, we were willing to seriously consider them.
The 367 was just about perfect on deck, i.e. designed for active sailing with a great cockpit, while the interior was awful -- the head compartment was cramped and barely useable.
OTOH, the 373 had a really nice interior layout but the deck design was awful for sailing. The broker told us the company had decided to aim for totally different markets and our comments echoed those of other sailors, but (at that time) there were no "dual purpose" boats from them.
If nothing else it reconfirmed our allegiance to our Olson 34 with it's combination of cruising amenities and dedication to sailing on deck.
The Bene's were nice looking, but you had to choose one set of features or another. Period. Things change and perhaps they will change their marketing again.
(?)